Country: Netherlands
Closing date: 15 Feb 2017
Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) / Artsen zonder Grenzen is a private, independent, medical emergency relief organization that provides assistance to people worldwide, regardless of their background, religion or political convictions. Above all, we aim to save lives and to offer medical care to victims of disasters, wars and epidemics.
MSF Operational Centre Amsterdam (OCA) currently operates medical humanitarian interventions in 28 countries. On a yearly basis MSF-OCA deploys approximately 1100 international staff and employs 7000 national staff. At headquarters in Amsterdam, around 220 employees offer their support to the projects.
With immediate effect, we are looking for a:
Coordinator Humanitarian Affairs Unit (100%)
Based in Amsterdam
The Advocacy & Operational Communications Department (AOC) comprises two units, Humanitarian Affairs (HA) and Operational Communications (Ops Comms). These units bring together advisors with a range of expertise, from international law, humanitarian affairs and advocacy, to public communications and campaigning. Together with colleagues in Amsterdam, London, and Berlin, the AOC department supports the organization in identifying and acting upon opportunities for advocacy and communication to influence humanitarian and medical issues related to MSF patients and operations. These issues include violence against civilians and medical personnel in conflict, protection of refugees and displaced persons, deliberate neglect and exclusion of minorities from basic services, and lack of adequate response to specific diseases.
The core responsibilities of the AOC department are:
- Work with MSF Operations to develop strong advocacy and communications in support of strategic objectives
- Maximize the leverage of MSF’s advocacy efforts, defining clear objectives and methods
- Lead the strategic planning and implementation of advocacy & communications initiatives
- Provide sound analysis on humanitarian affairs to inform operations and advocacy
- Training of MSF field staff in humanitarian affairs and operational communications
The Challenge:
As Coordinator of the Humanitarian Affairs Unit you will lead a team of 4 Humanitarian Affairs & Advocacy Advisors (HAA) in Amsterdam and Berlin. You will need a strong vision and leadership to develop the unit. You will also need sound management skills to guide the HAA team in identifying opportunities, setting priorities, and taking projects forward into completion.
The HA Unit Coordinator will work in close cooperation with the Operational Comms Coordinator to integrate MSF advocacy and communications efforts to support agreed operational objectives. Both coordinators will report to the Head of Advocacy and Communications. Key to his/her success will be the ability to work collaboratively with a multiplicity of counterparts, including Operational Managers, Human Resources and Learning & Development departments, as well as advocacy colleagues throughout the MSF movement. The ideal candidate will be able to effectively negotiate and partner with different stakeholders to achieve the best results.
Outstanding interpersonal skills are required. Strong negotiation and diplomatic skills are a must. Persistence in taking tasks to completion is essential, along with sound judgement and the ability to work in a high pressured and dynamic environment.
This position will require you to travel in the Netherlands and internationally to field projects and partner offices, sometimes at short notice, and for periods of up to 3 weeks. The total amount of travel expected is around 20% of your time.
Your responsibilities:
- To lead the HA unit within the Advocacy & Ops Comms department, and uphold the necessity to document and expose the impact of war, violence, and deliberate neglect on civilians in conflict.
- To further the strategic vision for the humanitarian affairs unit, coordinating the HA team and defining core dossiers into the future.
- Coordinate the activities of the members of the Humanitarian Affairs team and provide them with the necessary support to pursue identified priorities in their portfolios.
- Lead the development and implementation of plans for the HA unit, which are part of the overall AoC department’s annual planning and reporting cycle.
- Work together with the Ops Comms Coordinator to ensure cooperation between the Humanitarian Affairs Advisors and the Communications Advisors to plan, develop and implement joint Advocacy and Communications initiatives / projects.
- Support Advisors to negotiate priorities and objectives for advocacy with Operations.
- Ensure the coherence, relevance and technical quality of advocacy activities developed by the HAD Advisors, as well as adequate resourcing for implementation.
- Manage and support HAD team members in their professional development, including recruitment, appraisal/evaluation and career development.
- Coordinate the roll out of humanitarian affairs and advocacy training courses for MSF staff at headquarters and field level and actively participate in the teaching as required.
- Manage a variety of internal processes in the unit (e.g., the consolidation and update of a Humanitarian Affairs resource portal for field missions, organization of HAO days, data gathering and storage, etc)
- Work with HR to oversee the development of a strong pool/roster of qualified HAOs available for deployment in the field.
- Jointly with the Head of Advocacy and Comms, plan the annual budget that covers the expenses of the Humanitarian Affairs Unit within the department.
Your profile:
- At least 5 years of field experience in emergency/humanitarian aid, either in management of operations or in humanitarian affairs and advocacy roles.
- Proven ability to articulate a vision.
- Proven ability to persuade and work with others in carrying ideas through.
- Proven experience developing initiatives that integrate advocacy and communications towards agreed operational goals.
- Excellent strategic advocacy and advisory skills in a similar environment.
- Proven strategic and analytical thinking.
- Proven team leadership and management skills.
- Experience in policy development.
- Experience and affinity with training.
- Excellent writing, presentation skills, and public speaking.
- Knowledge of and affinity with the work of MSF, especially of its principles and ethics. Solid understanding of the challenges to humanitarian action today.
- Experience in an MSF field setting would be strongly preferred, but not a must.
- Creative team player. Initiative and a ‘can do’ attitude. Organisational awareness.
- Excellent command of the English language is essential; working knowledge of French is a distinct advantage. Other languages are a plus.
PLEASE DO NOT APPLY UNLESS YOU MEET THE REQUIREMENTS ABOVE. APPLICATIONS WHICH DO NOT MEET THEM WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
We offer
- A contract for one year with a renewal option;
- A gross salary in scale 7 with a minimum of € 3,167,-- and a maximum of € 4,522,--per month, depending upon relevant professional experience and based upon a 40-hour working week;
- A premium free pension, 30 annual leave a year
- A stimulating, professional environment in an international organisation.
How to apply:
For more information about this position, please contact the Head of Advocacy and Communications on Hernan.del.valle@amsterdam.msf.org
If you recognize yourself in the profile, please apply directly via our website by using this link https://ldd.tbe.taleo.net/ldd03/ats/careers/v2/viewRequisition?org=MSFOCA&cws=53&rid=12839
The deadline is February, 15. Interviews are foreseen in late February 2017.